Patents Assigned to Knowles Electronics, LLC
  • Patent number: 11968487
    Abstract: A microphone assembly can include a form-factor adapter housing including an interface opening and an external acoustic port, and an internal microphone assembly disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The internal microphone assembly can include an internal housing having an internal acoustic port and electrical interface contacts, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) motor disposed in the internal housing, and an integrated circuit disposed in the internal housing, the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to the electrical interface contacts. The assembly can include an adapter interface located at the interface opening and comprising external host device interface contacts electrically coupled to the electrical interface contacts, the external host device interface contacts exposed to an exterior of the microphone assembly. The internal acoustic port can be acoustically coupled to the external acoustic port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11912564
    Abstract: A sensor package can include a substrate including a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers can include a first pair of layers and a second pair of layers different from the first pair of layers. The substrate can have a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The sensor package can include a transducer coupled to the second side of the substrate. The sensor package can include an inductor electrically coupled to the transducer. The inductor can be configured as a single layer trace on an inductor layer within the substrate and disposed between the first pair of layers within the substrate. The first pair of layers can be more distal from the second side of the substrate than the second pair of layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Ariffin, Donald Yochem
  • Patent number: 11910138
    Abstract: A microphone assembly can include a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducer comprising a transducer substrate, a diaphragm oriented substantially parallel to the transducer substrate and spaced apart from the transducer substrate to form a gap, and a counter electrode coupled to the transducer substrate, the counter electrode positioned between the diaphragm and the transducer substrate. The MEMS transducer can generate a signal representative of a change in capacitance between the counter electrode and the diaphragm. A back volume of the MEMS transducer can be an enclosed volume positioned between the transducer substrate and the diaphragm. The microphone assembly can include an integrated circuit that receives the signal, wherein every point within the back volume is less than a thermal boundary layer thickness from a nearest solid surface at an upper limit of an audio frequency band that the integrated circuit is monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Vahid Naderyan, Michael Pedersen, Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 11894599
    Abstract: Integrated microphone and antennas include a microphone and an antenna. The microphone includes a housing and an acoustic transducer. The housing defines a cavity and includes a conductive layer. The acoustic transducer is positioned within the cavity and structured to generate an acoustic signal. The antenna is at least partially integrated with the microphone and structured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The antenna is structured to utilize the conductive layer of the housing as a radiating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Karan Jumani, Donald Yochem
  • Patent number: 11889252
    Abstract: A microphone device, an interface circuit and method are provided for managing a potential difference in sensitivity to a detected environmental stimulus associated with a sensor arrangement, where multiple electrical signals forming a differential signal can be produced, and the multiple electrical signals can be better balanced. Such an interface circuit, which can be used within a microphone device includes a bias voltage generator having one or more bias output voltage terminals, where a respective one of one or more DC bias voltages is produced at each of the bias output voltage terminals, for being coupled to a pair of transduction elements of a sensor. The interface circuit further includes an amplifier circuit having a first input terminal coupled to a first one of the pair of output terminals of the sensor and having a second input terminal coupled to a second one of the pair of output terminals of the sensor, the amplifier circuit producing a differential output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Niederberger, Thomas Gautschi, Michael Kuntzman, Mohsin Nawaz, Mohammad Shajaan, Christian Lillelund
  • Patent number: 11825266
    Abstract: Microphones including a housing defining a cavity, a plurality of conductors positioned within the cavity, at least one dielectric bar positioned within the cavity, and a transducer diaphragm. The conductors are structured to move in response to pressure changes while the housing remains fixed. A first conductor generates first electrical signals responsive to the pressure changes resulting from changes in an atmospheric pressure. A second conductor generates second electrical signals responsive to the pressure changes resulting from acoustic activity. The dielectric bar is fixed with respect to the cavity and remains fixed under the pressure changes. The dielectric bar is adjacent to at least one of the conductors. In response to an applied pressure that is an atmospheric pressure and/or an acoustic pressure, the transducer diaphragm exerts a force on the housing and displaces at least a portion of conductors with respect to the dielectric bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mohsin Nawaz, Shubham Shubham, David Schafer, Michael Pedersen, Claus Furst, Mohammad Shajaan, Jay Cech
  • Publication number: 20230288281
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect, a device is provided having a transducer comprising a conductor, a diaphragm configured to move relative to the conductor, and a reference volume in communication with the external environment. The diaphragm separates the reference volume and the external environment. The device further includes a controller operably coupled to the transducer and configured to determine an air pressure of an external environment based at least in part on movement of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Andy Unruh, Sung Bok Lee, Pete Loeppert, Wade Conklin, Michael Kuntzman, Vahid Naderyan
  • Patent number: 11753295
    Abstract: A MEMS device can include a solid dielectric including a plurality of apertures, the solid dielectric having a first side and a second side. The MEMS device can include a first plurality of electrodes extending completely through a first subset of the plurality of apertures, a second plurality of electrodes extending partially through a second subset of the plurality of apertures, a third plurality of electrodes extending partially into a third subset of the plurality of apertures. The MEMS device can include a first diaphragm coupled to the first plurality and to the third plurality of electrodes, the first diaphragm facing the first side of the solid dielectric. The MEMS device can include a second diaphragm coupled to the first plurality and to the second plurality of electrodes the second diaphragm facing the second side of the solid dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter V. Loeppert, Michael Pedersen
  • Patent number: 11750983
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a substrate and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) die. The substrate comprises a top layer and a bottom layer. The top layer comprises a layer of solder mask material spanning across at least a portion of the substrate and one or more standoffs formed of the solder mask material. The one or more standoffs and the layer of solder mask material comprising a single, contiguous structure. The MEMS die is disposed on the one or more standoffs and is coupled to the substrate via a bonding material. The bonding material forms an acoustic seal between the substrate and the MEMS die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Tony K. Lim, Norman Dennis Talag
  • Patent number: 11706561
    Abstract: A balanced armature receiver includes a gas permeable barrier located on a portion of the receiver defining a back volume to provide barometric relief. The barrier can be located in a wall portion or diaphragm of the receiver to vent the back volume to an exterior of the receiver directly, via a front volume, or via a nozzle. The gas permeable barrier is impermeable to liquid infiltration and can be configured to influence the low frequency response of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Brenno Varanda, Chris Monti, Steve Kearey, Donald Verghese Jacob, Tim Wickstrom, Jose Salazar, Alex Grossman, Matt Manley
  • Patent number: 11706570
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to dual-diaphragm moving-coil audio transducers for hearing devices. The transducer includes a magnetic circuit including an inner portion located between first and second coils coupled to corresponding diaphragms supported by a housing. An outer portion of the magnetic circuit is adjacent outer portions of the first and second coils. The transducer emits sound when the first diaphragm moves in a first direction and the second diaphragm moves in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in response to an electrical audio signal applied to the first and second coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Mohammadi, Christopher Lane Monti
  • Patent number: 11700492
    Abstract: A microphone assembly including an acoustic transducer configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to acoustic activity, an integrated circuit electrically coupled to the acoustic transducer and configured to receive the electrical signal from the acoustic transducer and generate an output signal representative of the acoustic activity, a cover, and a substrate. The substrate including a first surface and a second surface to which the cover is coupled. The second surface is disposed at a perimeter of the substrate and the first surface is raised with respect to the second surface. The cover is coupled to the substrate to form a housing in which the transducer and the integrated circuit are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Fei Ding
  • Patent number: 11696082
    Abstract: A microphone assembly comprises a substrate. An acoustic transducer is disposed on the substrate and configured to generate an electrical signal responsive to an acoustic signal. An integrated circuit is disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the acoustic transducer. An enclosure is disposed on the substrate, and comprises a main body, and a sidewall projecting axially from outer edges of the main body towards the substrate and contacting the substrate such that an internal volume is defined between the enclosure and the substrate. An insulating layer is insert molded on an inner surface of the enclosure, or over molded on an outer surface of the enclosure such that the insulating layer is not disposed on a portion of the sidewall proximate to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Norman Dennis Talag, Lili Borna, Tony K. Lim
  • Patent number: 11689848
    Abstract: A capacitive sensor assembly includes a capacitive transduction element and an electrical circuit disposed in the housing and electrically coupled to contacts on an external-device interface of the housing. The electrical circuit includes a sampling circuit having an operational sampling phase during which a voltage produced by the capacitive sensor is sampled by a sampling capacitor coupled to a comparator and an operational charging phase during which a second capacitor is charged by a charge and discharge circuit until the output of the comparator changes state, wherein the output of the sampling circuit is a pulse width modulated signal representative of the voltage on the input of the sampling circuit during each sample period. The output of the sampling circuit can be coupled to a delta-sigma analog-to-digital (A/D) converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Pedersen, Peter V. Loeppert
  • Patent number: 11671764
    Abstract: A microphone assembly includes a substrate, an acoustic transducer, an integrated circuit, and a cover couples to the substrate to enclose a back volume of the microphone assembly in which the acoustic transducer and the integrated circuit are disposed. The acoustic transducer includes a back plate and a diaphragm oriented parallel to the back plate disposed over an aperture in the substrate to receive acoustic signals. The cover is a metallic material with a thickness and a corresponding thermal diffusivity to attenuate incoming radio-frequency signals. The attenuation of the radio-frequency signals prevents ambient noise detectable by the microphone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Pedersen, Joshua Watson, Adam Ariffin, Daniel J. Fairfield
  • Patent number: 11659310
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone and form-factor adapter can include an adapter housing including an opening and an outer acoustic port and can include a MEMS microphone disposed at least partially within the adapter housing. The MEMS microphone can include a microphone housing, a MEMS motor disposed in the microphone housing and acoustically coupled to the outer acoustic port of the adapter housing via an acoustic port of the microphone housing, and an electrical circuit disposed in the microphone housing and electrically coupled to the MEMS motor and to electrical contacts on an exterior of the microphone housing. The electrical contacts can be physically accessible through the opening of the adapter housing. The adapter housing can change a form-factor of the MEMS microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Janice LoPresti, Steve Kearey, Usha Murthy
  • Patent number: 11659328
    Abstract: A wearable audio device can include a microphone located to detect atmospheric sound including a user's voice. The device can include an acoustic vibration sensor located to detect sound including the user's voice conducted through the user's body. The device can include a body voice filter coupled to the acoustic vibration sensor. The device can include a filter parameter generator coupled to the acoustic vibration sensor and the body voice filter the filter parameter generator configured to generate parameters for the body voice filter based on a frequency characteristic of a signal obtained from the acoustic vibration sensor. The device can include a composite signal generator coupled to the body voice filter and the microphone and configured to generate a composite voice signal based on a low band signal obtained predominately from the body voice filter and based on a high band signal obtained predominately from the microphone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Gints Klimanis
  • Patent number: 11659337
    Abstract: A balanced armature (BA) receiver and specifically a nickel-iron (Ni—Fe) alloy armature having improved robustness and performance receivers, as well as motors and receivers including such armatures are disclosed. The Ni—Fe armature has a nickel content of 45% or less by weight, 5% or less additive and impurities by weight, and the balance Fe. The armature can be configured as a U-reed, an E-reed or in some other configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Charles King, Chris Monti
  • Patent number: 11609091
    Abstract: A MEMS device can include a substrate having a first side and a second side, the substrate including an aperture extending from the first side through the substrate to the second side. The device can include a support structure coupled to the substrate the first side. The device can include a resilient structure coupled to the support structure. The device can include a rigid movable plate coupled to the support structure via the resilient structure and positioned over the aperture. The device can include a proof mass coupled to the movable plate, the proof mass extending into the aperture. The device can include an electrode located on an opposite side of the movable plate from the proof mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ken Deng, Michael Pedersen, Jeremy Johnson, Kevin Meneou
  • Patent number: 11591210
    Abstract: A transducer assembly can include a base. The transducer assembly can include a stress isolation standoff located on the base. The transducer assembly can include a MEMS die disposed on the stress isolation standoff. The transducer assembly can include a die attach adhesive disposed between the MEMS die and the base. The die attach adhesive can bond the MEMS die to the base. The stress isolation standoff can be embedded in the die attach adhesive between the base and the MEMS die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Pachla